Project 365 is cooking along, and look - the year is fully a sixth over.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Random Thoughts for a Sunday
First, can I just say how thankful I am for this supportive community? You are always so kind with your comments when I post my knitting.
It warms my heart, as corny as that sounds.
Second, the awesome charts that I used for my Wyverns sweater are from Here Be Wyverns, which I have spoken of before, and is certainly my favorite knitting pattern book.
Third, my 7-year-old has expressed an interest in watching Titanic.
I am reluctant to let her see so much death and violence at this age, though she assures me that there are children in her class who have watched it.
My first impulse is to wait until she's 9, what do you all think?
Fourth, we had our first Caritas Vocal Ensemble concert of the year this afternoon.
We raised almost $2000, including some matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, for a kitchen remodel at a church which, through their Loaves and Fishes program, provides meals for 300 people, five days a week.
Maybe I'll see you at one of our 3 concerts coming up between March 6 and March 13th!
Lastly, I found some new blog templates and this one felt Spring-y to me.
I will confess that the river is not melting yet, as the header would indicate.
That photo is from a couple of years ago, but I thought I might encourage the ice to break up if I concentrated on it hard enough.
Have a great Oscar night!
It warms my heart, as corny as that sounds.
Second, the awesome charts that I used for my Wyverns sweater are from Here Be Wyverns, which I have spoken of before, and is certainly my favorite knitting pattern book.
Third, my 7-year-old has expressed an interest in watching Titanic.
I am reluctant to let her see so much death and violence at this age, though she assures me that there are children in her class who have watched it.
My first impulse is to wait until she's 9, what do you all think?
Fourth, we had our first Caritas Vocal Ensemble concert of the year this afternoon.
We raised almost $2000, including some matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, for a kitchen remodel at a church which, through their Loaves and Fishes program, provides meals for 300 people, five days a week.
Maybe I'll see you at one of our 3 concerts coming up between March 6 and March 13th!
Lastly, I found some new blog templates and this one felt Spring-y to me.
I will confess that the river is not melting yet, as the header would indicate.
That photo is from a couple of years ago, but I thought I might encourage the ice to break up if I concentrated on it hard enough.
Have a great Oscar night!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Caritas Vocal Ensemble Concert Series
I Love -
For the past 5 years I have been singing with a group called Caritas Vocal Ensemble.
Well, for a while it was called something else, but the mission of the group has remained the same since its founding in 2001.
Each year, we sing 5-10 concerts as benefits for local non-profit groups who specialize in supplying basic human services, i.e. Food, Shelter, Clothing and Health Care.
I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed being a part of this group.
Not only do I get to hang out with great people, and get to sing a huge variety of fun/beautiful/silly/romantic music, but we're doing something that makes a difference in the lives of people in our communities.
Now you can help make a difference too.
Come and support these causes and we'll throw some great music into the bargain.
The big snow last weekend postponed our first concert of the year, but we have 6 more coming up plus the rescheduled first concert sometime this spring.
Please add one or more of these dates to your calendars, and you can come say hi to me, too!
3pm
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Benefit: Neighborhood Involvement Program
Freewill offering
For the past 5 years I have been singing with a group called Caritas Vocal Ensemble.
Well, for a while it was called something else, but the mission of the group has remained the same since its founding in 2001.
Each year, we sing 5-10 concerts as benefits for local non-profit groups who specialize in supplying basic human services, i.e. Food, Shelter, Clothing and Health Care.
I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed being a part of this group.
Not only do I get to hang out with great people, and get to sing a huge variety of fun/beautiful/silly/romantic music, but we're doing something that makes a difference in the lives of people in our communities.
Now you can help make a difference too.
Come and support these causes and we'll throw some great music into the bargain.
The big snow last weekend postponed our first concert of the year, but we have 6 more coming up plus the rescheduled first concert sometime this spring.
Please add one or more of these dates to your calendars, and you can come say hi to me, too!
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 - POSTPONED due to weather. Reschedule date TBD.
4pm
Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Paul
Benefit: St. Paul Area Council of Churches Homelessness Ministry
Entry: $10
Sunday, February 27, 2011
3 pm
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Plymouth
Benefit: River of Life Lutheran Church's Food Ministry
Entry: $10 (purchase tickets here)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
4 pm
Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Minneapolis
Benefit: LCCR's Togo Kids Fund
Freewill offering
Friday, March 11, 2011
7pm
Location: Edina Community Lutheran Church
Benefit: Southside Family Nurturing Center
Entry: $15 (purchase tickets here)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
4pm
St. John's Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Benefit: TRUST Parish Nursing Program
Entry: $15 ($10 for students and seniors)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
3pm
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, St. Louis Park
Benefit: St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP)
Entry: $15
3pm
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Benefit: Neighborhood Involvement Program
Freewill offering
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Yarn Along
Playing along with Ginny for Yarn Along Wednesday -
I'm still reading Freedom.
It's about 2/3 done, and I am still really enjoying it.
This sweater that I am knitting is actually taking a hiatus, as I am nearly out of the medium brown.
That tiny ball of medium brown there is all I have left, and it came as a little shock to me when I realized that there was no way that I would be able to finish the sweater with my remaining yarn.
Even after I harvested the ribbing and the pocket liners, all that was left was said tiny ball and I have the entire yoke to knit.
So, off to Ravelry I went.
I made an inquiry and I have a ball of yarn winging its way from BC as we speak.
This sweater began its life about a year ago, and suddenly I was taken with the urge to finish it.
It just goes to show that you should never just by some yarn and then design a sweater as you go.
Have a plan! This is the lesson that I have learned here.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
SNOW
Before
During
Heavy sigh.
There is another blizzard preparing to bury Minnesota today.
All through the heatwave of last week (it got to 55 degrees!) I kept repeating to myself that we'd have more snow, it always happens, this is but a brief respite... blah blah blah.
Well, it's here now and I can't say that I am in any way pleased.
The Caritas Concert for this afternoon has been canceled, the driving is just plain unsafe.
At least I learned my lesson from the December blizzard and both of the cars are off of the road.
The only thing keeping me from a total unpleasant attitude is that I came home from church to find hot dogs and Henry Weinhardt's rootbeer waiting for me.
There is nothing like a partner who anticipates your needs.
What are you up to on this snowy day?
During
Heavy sigh.
There is another blizzard preparing to bury Minnesota today.
All through the heatwave of last week (it got to 55 degrees!) I kept repeating to myself that we'd have more snow, it always happens, this is but a brief respite... blah blah blah.
Well, it's here now and I can't say that I am in any way pleased.
The Caritas Concert for this afternoon has been canceled, the driving is just plain unsafe.
At least I learned my lesson from the December blizzard and both of the cars are off of the road.
The only thing keeping me from a total unpleasant attitude is that I came home from church to find hot dogs and Henry Weinhardt's rootbeer waiting for me.
There is nothing like a partner who anticipates your needs.
What are you up to on this snowy day?
Friday, February 18, 2011
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
I Love
I Love -
Well, I don't know which to choose today.
I love sewing, but you knew that.
I love new shoes, who doesn't?
Mostly, I love friends who don't fit their new shoes and then make a gift of said awesome shoes to me!
Follow the top link to Kerry's and find out what else we're loving this February.
Well, I don't know which to choose today.
I love sewing, but you knew that.
I love new shoes, who doesn't?
Mostly, I love friends who don't fit their new shoes and then make a gift of said awesome shoes to me!
Follow the top link to Kerry's and find out what else we're loving this February.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
yarn along
Rebecca was pushed to the side when I got Freedom in the mail this week.It's the new selection for my book club and it is deeply engrossing.
Actually, if you wanted to know the plot, I don't know what it is yet, but the exposition is really interesting.
The knitting is a hat for my husband.
I needed something instantly gratifying after working on the mittens for so long. I just have to weave in that last end and it will be finished.
What are you knitting and reading today?
Head over to Ginny's to see what else is on the needles.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I Love
I Love -
Craft Hope projects.
For their current project, #11!, they're asking people to put together birthing kits for Haitian midwives to bring to new mothers.
Half of the kit is intended for the midwife's use during delivery - gloves, soap, a clean piece of plastic for the mother to lie down on, etc., and the balance of the kit is for the new baby and mama.
My craft group got together on a couple of evenings and made tote bags, blankets and dollies, and we were able to assemble 5 kits for this worthy cause.
My Elder helped me put the final items together this morning,
and we sent our box off in the mail today.
The deadline for this project is March 1, so you still have time to join in and do some good!
Craft Hope projects.
For their current project, #11!, they're asking people to put together birthing kits for Haitian midwives to bring to new mothers.
Half of the kit is intended for the midwife's use during delivery - gloves, soap, a clean piece of plastic for the mother to lie down on, etc., and the balance of the kit is for the new baby and mama.
My craft group got together on a couple of evenings and made tote bags, blankets and dollies, and we were able to assemble 5 kits for this worthy cause.My Elder helped me put the final items together this morning,
and we sent our box off in the mail today.
The deadline for this project is March 1, so you still have time to join in and do some good!
Celebrate the Boy!
Rae at Made by Rae is celebrating clothes for boys this month! I am so excited to join in and make some things for my boy.
The majority of sewing is for the Elder around here, so I certainly owe the Younger a garment or two.
And because I have had this in my head all morning, I just had to share it with you too!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
I Love
I love -
Singing with these people.
I've just come from a really satisfying rehearsal, and we're ready to do some serious singing next Sunday.
Come to a concert, support some great causes and hear some wonderful music.
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011
4pm
Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Paul
Benefit: St. Paul Area Council of Churches Homelessness Ministry
Entry: $10
Sunday, February 27, 2011
3 pm
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Plymouth
Benefit: River of Life Lutheran Church's Food Ministry
Entry: $10
Sunday, March 6, 2011
4 pm
Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Minneapolis
Benefit: LCCR's Togo Kids Fund
Freewill offering
Friday, March 11, 2011
7pm
Location: Edina Community Lutheran Church
Benefit: Southside Family Nurturing Center
Freewill offering
Sunday, March 13, 2011
4pm
St. John's Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Benefit: TRUST Parish Nursing Program
Entry: $15
Sunday, April 10, 2011
3pm
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, St. Louis Park
Benefit: St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP)
Entry: $15
3pm
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Benefit: Neighborhood Involvement Program
Freewill offering
What are you loving today?
Check out Kerry's blog to see more.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tidying Up
So, today is the day when I begin taking back my house from the mess.
It's a little frightening around here.
Lots of dishes to do, lots of laundry to wash, clutter everywhere (much of it due to unfinished knitting or sewing projects that may or may not be mine), and vacuuming needed in almost every room.
After some initial whining, I washed a bunch of dishes, washed about 5 loads of laundry, and then I started cleaning up the kids' room.
I looked through 3 years of photos and clearly their room is always a disaster because I could only find these photos of what it looked like before today.
Some of what I did was the usual stuff, new linens on the beds, vacuum, throw out stuff that needed throwing out, but I also put up a bunch of art, re-oriented the Younger's bed 90 degrees, pulled the costume corner out of the closet and into the bedroom,
and used a lesson learned from The Shawshank Redemption which is this - if you have a crack in your wall,
hide it with a big damn poster.
Three posts in one day, I don't know how that happened.
How is your Friday treating you?
It's a little frightening around here.
Lots of dishes to do, lots of laundry to wash, clutter everywhere (much of it due to unfinished knitting or sewing projects that may or may not be mine), and vacuuming needed in almost every room.
After some initial whining, I washed a bunch of dishes, washed about 5 loads of laundry, and then I started cleaning up the kids' room.
I looked through 3 years of photos and clearly their room is always a disaster because I could only find these photos of what it looked like before today.
Some of what I did was the usual stuff, new linens on the beds, vacuum, throw out stuff that needed throwing out, but I also put up a bunch of art, re-oriented the Younger's bed 90 degrees, pulled the costume corner out of the closet and into the bedroom,
and used a lesson learned from The Shawshank Redemption which is this - if you have a crack in your wall,
hide it with a big damn poster.
Three posts in one day, I don't know how that happened.How is your Friday treating you?
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
go to Soulemama to see more.
I Love
I love Baking.
Not too much more to say about that.
Hot from the oven, covered in turkey, or avocado, or (if I feel like being really naughty, and then taking some drugs) butter.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I Love
I Love -
Needle work.
I could probably have about 5 posts about this, but I'll start with this one.
The other day I was playing Pictionary with the Elder and she got Sewing.
She drew this
and it was just so perfect.
If I were ever to get a tattoo, I would think seriously about using that picture.
Today I am doing a little sewing for the store.
This will be a little jumper to hang as a model.
What are you loving lately?
p.s. I also love all of your kind comments.
Thank you so much!
Needle work.
I could probably have about 5 posts about this, but I'll start with this one.
The other day I was playing Pictionary with the Elder and she got Sewing.
She drew this
and it was just so perfect.If I were ever to get a tattoo, I would think seriously about using that picture.
Today I am doing a little sewing for the store.
This will be a little jumper to hang as a model.
What are you loving lately?
p.s. I also love all of your kind comments.
Thank you so much!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Yarn Along
Joining Ginny for Yarn Along again.These are my Northman Mittens (again), I am clearly taking my time finishing them.
The first one is finished, and I have only the lining to finish on the right mitten.
It's -4 out there right now.
I can't wait until these are finally done!
This week I finished reading The Spiderwick Chronicles with the Younger, and now I am poised on the brink of starting Rebecca.
I have always wanted to read this and someone else in the Yarn Along featured it last week or the week before.
This Yarn Along thing is great for book suggestions!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I Love
I been slack, and no mistake.
I joined Kerry's quest to talk about what we love during the month of February, and I think I have only done it once.
Anyway, I love - little ones in costume.
I found the bin of all things costume the other day when I was doing a little tidy-ing in the basement.
The green blob is a dinosaur costume that Spiderman just took off moments before this photo was taken.
A costume is such fuel for the imagination.
Plus, don't my kids look cute in them?
I joined Kerry's quest to talk about what we love during the month of February, and I think I have only done it once.
Anyway, I love - little ones in costume.
I found the bin of all things costume the other day when I was doing a little tidy-ing in the basement.
The green blob is a dinosaur costume that Spiderman just took off moments before this photo was taken.
A costume is such fuel for the imagination.
Plus, don't my kids look cute in them?
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Day-to-Day
(I found this post from mid-January which I had never successfully posted)
I was watching Before Sunrise the other day, and I realized that 1995, when the movie came out, was 16 years ago.
That is the year that my husband and I started dating, in fact we just had the anniversary of our first date on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the movie, when Jesse and Celine are still on the train, Jesse has this idea for a show where someone would film their entire day, and then the next day someone else would do the same and it would go on for a whole year eventually showing 365 different people doing whatever it is they do, every minute of every day.
Celine's response is incredulous, why would people want to watch the boring stuff that they're already doing?
I think they invented blogs that day.
Jesse's assertion was that there is beauty in the everyday boring stuff that we all do.
What a goal, to find that beauty in a cup of tea, or shoveling snow, or a pile of Christmas detritus.
I was watching Before Sunrise the other day, and I realized that 1995, when the movie came out, was 16 years ago.
That is the year that my husband and I started dating, in fact we just had the anniversary of our first date on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the movie, when Jesse and Celine are still on the train, Jesse has this idea for a show where someone would film their entire day, and then the next day someone else would do the same and it would go on for a whole year eventually showing 365 different people doing whatever it is they do, every minute of every day.
Celine's response is incredulous, why would people want to watch the boring stuff that they're already doing?
I think they invented blogs that day.
Jesse's assertion was that there is beauty in the everyday boring stuff that we all do.
What a goal, to find that beauty in a cup of tea, or shoveling snow, or a pile of Christmas detritus.
Procrastination
I don't really want to clean up the living room.
It has to be done.
I'll get to it soon.
But, first there is a desperately important project to do.
Fix this princess hat.
It was in the basement in a bin for about a year, and it was crushed all to hell, so why not take the morning and make a new one?
I started by carefully disassembling the sad, sad hat.
Originally the hat was constructed from the cover to a large sketch pad. It worked wonderfully until it got all squished.
There weren't any more giant sketch pads to be had in the house, so I pulled a grocery bag from the recycling, dissected it, folded it in half to be sure of the size
and laminated the halves together with elmers 
and a brayer.
After I cut it to the shape I needed, basically a slightly smaller version of the outside fabric, I dried the glue-y paper on the radiator.
Fast forward about 30 minutes, and I made my cone shape using some duct tape.
The train is some leftover fabric from my wedding dress.
Next, I hot-glued the outside fabric around the cone and added a ribbon at the edge.
There followed a lot of fiddling with the length of the elastic, since I didn't feel like actually measuring anything (don't judge me) and voila!
Some really productive procrastinating! (Please forgive the blurry photo here, The Elder was already dressed as Laura Ingalls, and she didn't really want to play my model.)
What are you putting off today?
It has to be done.
I'll get to it soon.
But, first there is a desperately important project to do.
Fix this princess hat.
It was in the basement in a bin for about a year, and it was crushed all to hell, so why not take the morning and make a new one?
I started by carefully disassembling the sad, sad hat.
Originally the hat was constructed from the cover to a large sketch pad. It worked wonderfully until it got all squished.There weren't any more giant sketch pads to be had in the house, so I pulled a grocery bag from the recycling, dissected it, folded it in half to be sure of the size
and laminated the halves together with elmers 
and a brayer.
After I cut it to the shape I needed, basically a slightly smaller version of the outside fabric, I dried the glue-y paper on the radiator.
Fast forward about 30 minutes, and I made my cone shape using some duct tape.
The train is some leftover fabric from my wedding dress.
Next, I hot-glued the outside fabric around the cone and added a ribbon at the edge.
There followed a lot of fiddling with the length of the elastic, since I didn't feel like actually measuring anything (don't judge me) and voila!
Some really productive procrastinating! (Please forgive the blurry photo here, The Elder was already dressed as Laura Ingalls, and she didn't really want to play my model.)What are you putting off today?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Yarn Along
I'll follow Kerry's lead and combine the things I love with my Yarn Along today.
During the great book organization of 2011, as I am sure this week will come to be known, we found this book of card games. The Elder and I have had some wonderful together time since then, playing Hello Sir, Hello Miss and Snap and Spit. Being able to spend some time with my darling girl is definitely one of the things I love most in this 'ol world.
The mitten is my Northman Mitten of last week, and the red is the lining.
What's on your needles today?
Also, what do you love today?
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